Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plans - Option Plan Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Options to Buy AB Holding Units
Exercised (in units)	(358,262)	(541,073)
Option Awards [Member]
Options to Buy AB Holding Units
Outstanding as of December 31, 2015 (in units)	5,398,471
Granted (in units)	54,546	29,056	25,106
Exercised (in units)	(358,262)
Forfeited (in units)	0
Expired (in units)	(9,712)
Outstanding as of December 31, 2016 (in units)	5,085,043	5,398,471
Exercisable as of December 31, 2016, Options to Buy AB Holding Units (in units)	4,700,909
Vested or Expected to Vest as of December 31, 2016, Options to Buy AB Holding Units (in units)	5,085,043
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option
Outstanding as of December 31, 2015, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	$ 47.59
Granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	22.64
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	17.05
Forfeited, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	0.00
Expired, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	65.02
Outstanding as of December 31, 2016, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	49.45	$ 47.59
Exercisable as of December 31, 2016, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	47.58
Vested or Expected to Vest as of December 31, 2016, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	$ 49.45
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2 years	2 years 10 months 24 days
Exercisable as of December 31, 2016, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	1 year 10 months 24 days
Vested and Expected to Vest as of December 31, 2016, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2 years
Outstanding as of December 31, 2016, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 0
Exercisable as of December 31, 2016, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	0
Vested or Expected to Vest as of December 31, 2016, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 0